DOI: 10.1063/5.0339154 ISSN: 2158-3226

Torsion stability under distant laser perturbation

P. J. Adamson, C. Carmichael, J. Martinez Ortiz, L. S. Matthews, T. W. Hyde

We establish distant laser perturbation of a torsion inclusion within a plasma crystal as a novel way of examining energy exchange in a stable yet dynamic complex plasma system. We also determine torsion energy as inherent to a crystal within given experimental parameters, thus facilitating the use of torsions as a probe of the surrounding lattice and energy exchange processes. A complex plasma crystal with a torsion (spinning particle pair) inclusion is perturbed by a vertical Verdi laser at 1 W power at six distinct laser impact positions for a total of 21 laser pulses. The stability of various torsion parameters under this perturbation is measured. In particular, it is established that the torsion kinetic energy and interparticle potential energy consistently return to the same steady-state values. This is the first step in understanding the stability and dynamics of torsion energy and the driving wake-field-mediated interactions. This demonstrates torsions as an excellent candidate for perturbation as a means to understand responsive energy exchange between flowing ions and dust motion.

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